Leucothoe plant named ‘HOWW’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Leucothoe  plant named ‘HOWW’, characterized by its deliquescent mounding fountain-like shrub; vigorous growth habit; fully expanded leaves are green and greyed-green mottled with distinct ivory white-colored margins; developing leaves with reddish overtones; freely flowering plant habit; white-colored flowers arranged in long racemes, good garden performance; and relative resistance to  Phytophthora  root rot.

Botanical description: Leucothoe fontanesiana.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HOWW’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofLeucothoe, botanically known as Leucothoe fontanesiana and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘HOWW’.

The new Leucothoe is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventors in Seneca, S.C. The objective of the breeding programis to create new Leucothoe cultivars with desirable plant form, plantsize and leaf coloration.

The new Leucothoe originated from a self-pollination made by theInventors in May, 1988, in Seneca, S.C. of an unnamed selection ofLeucothoe fontanesiana, not patented. The new Leucothoe was discoveredand selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated self-pollination in a controlled environment inSeneca, S.C. in March, 1989.

Asexual reproduction of the new Leucothoe by terminal cuttings in acontrolled environment in Seneca, S.C. since October, 1991, has shownthat the unique features of this new Leucothoe are stable and reproducedtrue to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar HOWW has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironment and cultural practices such as temperature, daylength andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘HOWW’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘HOWW’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofLeucothoe:

-   -   1. Deliquescent mounding fountain-like shrub; vigorous growth        habit.    -   2. Fully expanded leaves are green and greyed-green mottled with        distinct ivory white-colored margins; developing leaves with        reddish overtones.    -   3. Freely flowering plant habit.    -   4. White-colored flowers arranged in long racemes.    -   5. Good garden performance.    -   6. Relatively resistant to Phytophthora root rot.

Plants of the new Leucothoe can be compared to plants of the parentselection. Plants of the new Leucothoe differ primarily from plants ofthe parent selection in leaf coloration as plants of the new Leucothoehave green and greyed-green mottled leaves with distinct ivorywhite-colored margins whereas plants of the parent selection havegreen-colored leaves. In addition, leaves of plants of the new Leucothoeare shorter than leaves of plants of the parent selection.

Plants of the new Leucothoe can be compared to plants of the cultivarTricolor, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,008. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Seneca, S.C., plants of the new Leucothoediffered from plants of the cultivar Tricolor in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Leucothoe were more vigorous and hardier        than plants of the cultivar Tricolor.    -   2. Plants of the Leucothoe and the cultivar Tricolor differed in        leaf coloration as leaves of plants of the cultivar Tricolor        were red, green and yellow in color.    -   3. Plants of the new Leucothoe were more freely flowering than        plants of the cultivar Tricolor.

Plants of the new Leucothoe can be compared to plants of the cultivarGirard's Rainbow, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inSeneca, S.C., plants of the new Leucothoe differed from plants of thecultivar Girard's Rainbow in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Leucothoe were larger, more vigorous and        hardier than plants of the cultivar Girard's Rainbow.    -   2. Plants of the new Leucothoe and the cultivar Girard's Rainbow        differed in leaf coloration as leaves of plants of the cultivar        Girard's Rainbow were green and yellow mottled in color.    -   3. Plants of the new Leucothoe were more freely flowering than        plants of the cultivar Girard's Rainbow.    -   4. Plants of the new Leucothoe were more resistant and tolerant        to pathogens common to Leucothoe than plants of the cultivar        Girard's Rainbow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Leucothoe, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored, reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Leucothoe.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘HOWW’ grown in container.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a side perspective view ofa typical flowering plant of ‘HOWW’ with developing foliage.

The photograph on the third sheet comprises a close-up view of typicalinflorescences and leaves of ‘HOWW’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The photographs and following observations, measurements and valuesdescribe plants grown in Seneca, S.C., under commercial practice in apolypropylene-covered shadehouse in three-gallon containers. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranging from −5° C. to 40° C.and night temperatures ranging from −25° C. to 35° C. Plants had beengrowing for about four years when the photographs and description weretaken. In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Leucothoe fontanesiana cultivar HOWW.-   Parentage: Self-pollination of an unnamed selection of Leucothoe    fontanesiana, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By semi-hardwood and hardwood stem cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 45 days at            temperatures of 27° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 70 days at            temperatures of 16° C. to 17° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 80 days            at temperatures of 27° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 120 days            at temperatures of 16° C. to 17° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; 159B to N167D in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Deliquescent mounding fountain-like            shrub. Vigorous growth habit.        -   Branching habit.—Clumping with numerous basal branches and            about seven lateral branches        -   Plant height.—About 90 cm to 120 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 120 cm to 150 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 8 cm to 36 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 1.9 mm to 5.2 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1.1 cm to 3.1 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong; flexible.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—Young stems, upper surface: 183A. Young stems, lower            surface: 191A. Older stems: 165B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.        -   Length.—About 2.5 cm to 10 cm.        -   Width.—About 0.6 cm to 2.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Long acuminate.        -   Base.—Broadly cuneate.        -   Margin.—Serrate; coarse.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Scattered pubescent.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Pubescent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: Center, 137A,            overlain with 183A; towards the margins, 155A overlain with            65B. Developing foliage, lower surface: Center, 182D;            towards the margins, 65D. Fully expanded foliage, upper            surface: Center, 139A mottled with 191B; towards the margin,            155A; venation, 137A. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface:            Center, 191A; towards the margins, 155A; venation, 145C.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 5.6 mm to 14.6 mm. Diameter: About            1.4 mm to 2.8 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Minutely hirsute. Color, upper surface: 183A. Color, lower            surface: 191A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Urceolate flowers arranged in            long axillary racemes. Freely flowering habit with usually            about 20 to 50 open flowers per inflorescence. Flowers not            persistent. Flowers downwardly drooping.        -   Fragrance.—Faint; musky.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Leucothoe flower            from during the early spring in South Carolina.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about one to three            days on the plant.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 2 cm to 6.5 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 1.5 cm to 1.7 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 3.5 mm to 5.1 mm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 5 mm to 8.5 mm.        -   Flower bud.—Shape: Ovate to oblong. Length: About 3.2 mm to            7.5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm to 4.5 mm. Color: 157C.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base; ovate            to oblong urceolate corolla tube. Petal length from throat:            About 1 mm. Peal width: About 1.5 mm. Petal shape: Orbicular            to elliptic. Petal apex: Rounded. Petal margin: Entire.            Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, waxy.            Color: Petal, when opening, upper and lower surfaces: 157C.            Petal, fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: 157D; color            becoming closer to 155D with development.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Calyx tube with five sepals fused at the            base. Sepal length: About 2 mm. Sepal width: About 1 mm.            Sepal shape: Oblong to ovate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal            margin: Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth; waxy. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 157C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.5 cm to 8.5 cm. Diameter: About            0.8 mm to 2.5 mm. Angle: About 45° to 90° from stem axis.            Strength: Strong; flexible. Texture; Smooth, glabrous.            Color: 157C.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.2 mm to 4 mm. Diameter: About            0.6 mm. Angle: About 45° to 90° from peduncle axis.            Strength: Strong; flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: 157C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Ten per            flower. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: About 0.5 mm to            1 mm. Anther color: 157C. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen            color: 157C. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil            length: About 4 mm to 7 mm. Style length: About 3 mm to            4 mm. Style color: 157C. Stigma shape: Flared, blunt. Stigma            color: 157C. Ovary color: 157C. Fruit: Quantity per plant:            Fifty to 500 per lateral branch. Length: About 2 mm to 3 mm.            Diameter: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Texture: Smooth. Color: 165A.            Seed: Length: About 0.3 mm. Diameter: About 0.1 mm. Color:            164D.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Echinacea have exhibited good    tolerance to rain and wind and have been observed to tolerant    temperatures from about −25° C. to about 45° C.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Leucothoe have been    observed to be resistant to Phytophthora root rot and tolerant to    Cercospora leaf spot. Plants of the new Leucothoe have not been    observed to be resistant to pests and other pathogens common to    Leucothoe.

1. A new and distinct Leucothoe plant named ‘HOWW’ as illustrated anddescribed.